Copilot is receiving a sidebar feature for Windows 11, similar to what Gemini offers in Chrome.
Microsoft is reintroducing the original sidebar concept for Copilot in Windows 11, now with options to dock to the left or right and enhanced desktop integration.
Microsoft has modified Copilot for Windows 11 multiple times. However, its most recent design revisits a previously attempted concept: anchoring the AI assistant to the side of the screen, allowing constant access while using other applications.
Currently, Microsoft’s AI assistant opens as a separate app by default. But by hovering over a new dropdown menu in the title bar, users can access specific window snapping options to dock the assistant to either side of the screen (as reported by Windows Latest).
What is the updated Copilot sidebar?
While the snapping interface may seem similar to Windows 11’s Snap Layouts, it is distinct. Copilot has its own dedicated layout options, separate from the standard window snapping capabilities of the operating system.
It functions as a fixed sidebar that remains open during tasks, rather than a floating window requiring constant adjustment. For users who wish to keep the AI assistant visible but less intrusive, a picture-in-picture mode is also available.
When Copilot is docked, the system automatically adjusts other windows around it. For example, Windows 11 rearranges active apps to utilize the remaining screen area, and the desktop watermark moves to the opposite side.
Hasn’t Microsoft attempted this before?
Indeed, and that’s where it gets intriguing. The original version of Copilot was launched on Windows 11 as a sidebar next to applications, allowing users to pose questions about the content on-screen.
Subsequently, Microsoft abandoned this design in favor of a standalone app, which was eventually transformed into an Edge-based web wrapper. According to a report from Windows Latest, which highlighted the new docking feature, the initial sidebar version faltered because it relied completely on web technologies.
The new iteration provides users with significant control over placement, a feature that the original version lacked. While it remains unclear whether Copilot Vision will automatically trigger docking when activated, the docking feature is being gradually implemented.
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Copilot is receiving a sidebar feature for Windows 11, similar to what Gemini offers in Chrome.
Copilot will feature a dockable sidebar in Windows 11, functioning similarly to Gemini in Chrome, a strategy that Microsoft previously attempted and then abandoned.